15 Solid Reasons Why I Could Have Never Sang With Frank Sinatra or The Rat Pack

Updated on October 20, 2014

"Ol' blue eyes"

Young Frank

Sinatra's trademark Fedora

Sinatra will always mean talent

When you speak the name, Frank Sinatra, you speak talent defined. When you speak the name, Frank Sinatra in doing a story about him, good luck. With Sinatra, there is no beginning and no ending to be found. Seemingly, and strictly from a mortal mind, Frank Sinatra has always been--in some arena or the other and touching countless lives in the process.

During the course of Sinatra’s brilliant and sometimes-complex career, he not only drew controversy, but made controversy with his very words and decisions that he made. But what would you expect from someone who was made of unadulterated, raw confidence? Sinatra did what he wanted, when he wanted and if his heart wasn’t in a project, he wasn’t in the project, no matter the amount of cash.

Sinatra, the singer, didn’t have to knock on doors to get on stage. Show business agents clawed at each other for a presence with “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” one of his pet names that mega-fame and popularity brought him. Record companies and motels didn’t offer Sinatra a price, he asked and got the price, no matter how high the cost of his doing a few shows or one show. He was that way, talented, sure of himself and most always got his way.

Frank at work

Frank and "that" smile

Frank listens to a playback of a song

What more can I, or anyone else say about Frank?

I, or anyone else who is addicted to the computer keyboard and screen cannot add anything more that would honor and celebrate such a super-celebrity as Frank Sinatra, so why try? I have selfish reasons. I loved Sinatra. I loved his songs and films. What I admire about him the most is that he didn’t have to shake and writhe on stage such as the Elvis Presley’s and rockers like The Beatles. Nor did he have to walk among his crowds and openly-flirt with women such as the Wayne Newton’s and a few truckloads of nameless singers who dreamed of being Sinatra. He just sang or acted and let his mere presence do the rest.

I suppose someone somewhere has already written a sentence synonomous with this one, but I am going to write it regardless. When God, the only one more powerful than Sinatra, was handing out pure talent, His gracious nature led Him to give Frank Sinatra an extra share. I know it. You know it. The world knows it.

“I” include myself with the nameless singers who dreamed of singing like Sinatra. That would be “the” dream of a lifetime come true, but even more exciting, to be a member of Frank’s clan, The Rat Pack that included other stars such as Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. What a personal achievement that would be for some rural hick from northwest Alabama.

But I can tell you flatly that I have . . .

The ravishing Ava Gardner

Rat Pack burns up stage

One of many Sinatra albums

Frank doing a love song

Rat Pack publicity shot

Source

15 Solid Reasons Why I Could Have Never Sang With Frank Sinatra or The Rat Pack

I would be very intimidated by Sinatra’s persona for he is total-cool and I am total-rural.

I look horrible in a Fedora worn by “Ol Blue Eyes,” and he hates anyone who wears caps adorned with their favorite football team logo.

Given everyone who travels in his circles, I would have a tough time being accepted into The Rat Pack for I have no acting or comedy background. Average guys no matter how good-hearted, were never a part of The Rat Pack.

I cannot read a roadmap fluently, so for me to drive to Las Vegas would be a dilemma and I do not have money for the train, bus or airline.

Allegedly, Frank Sinatra had ties with organized crime. I am way too not comfortable associating with people who have alleged ties to organized crime. Besides, I love living too much.

My looks are against me. Everyone of The Rat Pack were handsome guys. If Sinatra accepted me as a member, I would stick out like a scarecrow on Fifth Avenue, New York City.

I do not drink alcoholic beverages at all. Sinatra and all of his Rat Pack buds drank and sometimes heavily. I am sure that Sinatra would not want a sober Rat Pack member. I might be a “buzz kill.”

I have always had a thing for Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy, and that would be a huge problem if she were to drop by his mansion in Las Vegas or Palm Springs to see her dad with me there—I might not be able to control myself around her and that would spell “kicked-out” of The Rat Pack immediately.

I can say the same thing as in above item about Nancy Sinatra that I feel toward one of Frank Sinatra’s ex-wives, Ava Gardner. What a gorgeous woman! Brunette, beautiful lips and eyes. What if she made a surprise visit to Frank’s mansion to mend some fences? I would turn into grape jelly and if Ava were to smile at me, Frank’s anger would kick-in and I would be slugged.

Sinatra was a gambler and I have never been excited to lose what money I have.

I do not know how to mingle with the powerful, influential, and wealthy upper-level of people Sinatra and The Rat Pack “rubbed elbows” with on occasion. I would be a bad reflection on him and his buddies.

From the research I did on Sinatra, he loved his Rat Pack friends for they all were “yes men”—agreeing on most everything he said or did. I cannot be that much of a hypocrite. When something is wrong, it’s wrong, and with my big mouth speaking against his shady ideas (in that day), he and I would have problems and “I” would be the one headed back home to Alabama afoot.

I am unable to speak Italian, so that is against me being able to join The Rat Pack and sing with Sinatra.

Frank Sinatra loved to weild his power in the political arena. (e.g. The John F. Kennedy debacle) and I am not the least bit excited about who is elected and how they were elected. With me not liking politics or most politicians would make Frank very angry and he would personally toss me (by the seat of my trousers) into the lower luggage area on a Greyhound bus.

And the MAIN reason I could never sing with Frank Sinatra and The Rack Pack is . . .

Comments 8 comments

Love the guy and the pack. I could have been a contender if only I did not fit in with all of your 15 reasons.

kenneth avery 2 years ago from Hamilton, Alabama Author

Eric,

Surely you gest, "and don't call you Shirley." Yes, you could have made it fine with the guys. You have "that" Vegas look as if you should be on stage belting-out "My Way," or hey, can you do, "Mac, The Knife?" My favorite.

I am sincere. You could be as good as the Pack for only Davis, Jr. and sometimes Martin sang, and I found out that the drunk act was just that. An act. Sure they drank, but not enough to really be considered sloppy drunk. Or Frank would have fired them.

One thing's for sure. He can never fire me.

sheilamyers 2 years ago

I would have to say I'd never fit in around the "Rat Pack" for the same reasons you mentioned. Then again, when I think about the things you listed, I wouldn't choose to want to be there. From a distance, he looks and acts cool. Yet who really wants to be associated with someone with ties to the mob or needs to be surrounded by "Yes men"? I'd much rather hang around the uncool people (as Sinatra would probably classify them) who wouldn't get me into trouble and would let me disagree with them. Sure, that crowd won't lead me to fame and fortune, but I don't want either if it comes with that high a price.

kenneth avery 2 years ago from Hamilton, Alabama Author

Dear sheilamyers,

You said it, my friend. And may I say that you summed it up perfectly. There is a certain unspoken peace and happiness being with a crowd with no upper agenda.

Thank you, dear sheila, for your comment.

Have a happy night.

vkwok 2 years ago from Hawaii

The Rat Pack certainly have some high standards.

kenneth avery 2 years ago from Hamilton, Alabama Author

vkwok,

You are so right, my friend. Too high for some rube like me to be a part of them. Which is a blessing now that sheilamyers has taught me to think of it like this: Maybe it was best that I did not belong with them. She is very wise.

teaches12345 2 years ago

I can still hear his voice crooning out This Town. There is an authentic Italian restaurant here that plays his songs as people dine. It's very soothing to hear him sing those wonderful tunes. He had a wonderful voice but I too would not be willing to live the life he did. Too dangerous and a little wild.

kenneth avery 2 years ago from Hamilton, Alabama Author

Dear teaches12345,

You, my dear friend, are a blessed woman. To dine in a place where His songs are playing. Wow. I would ask where you live, but I do not ride on the "Offensive Express," but you are very blessed.

He did have a certain charasmatic charm and singing talent, but thanks for agreeing with me on why you couldn't sing with him either. He did have a dangerous and wild life.